Strap and buckle combination

ABSTRACT

A strap and buckle combination useful as a watchband is provided with an article-holding compartment. A cover member has a secured end pivotally mounted on the buckle means, a free end, and a generally continuous surface between. The cover member is pivotal between a closed position wherein the cover member cooperates with the buckle means to form a functionally closed compartment under and within the buckle means for maintaining an article therein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into and removed from the compartment.

United States Patent [1 1 Luft et al.

[451 Aug. 26, 1975 STRAP AND BUCKLE COMBINATION lnventors: Walter Luft,Forest Hills, N.Y.;

Salvatore Bello, Cliffside Park, NJ.

[73] Jacoby-Bender, Inc., Woodside,

Filed: May 31, 1974 App1.No.: 475,152

Assignee:

US. Cl 24/265 WS; 24/71 .1; 40/2l C; 224/28 B Int. Cl. A43C 11/00; A44C5/18 Field of Search 24/163 R, 163 KO, 243 SC, 24/265 BC, 265 WS, 73 WW,71 J, 178, 188; 224/26 C, 26 D, 26 E, 26 B, 28 B, 28 W; 40/21 C, 21 RReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1886 Briesen 224/28 B 12/1925Landrum 224/26 E l/l926 Lederer 24/265 BC 9/1927 Chils0n.... 24/71 .110/1928 Newman 24/71 .1

2,443,805 6/1948 Sega] 24/188 2,749,634 6/1956 Bilett ct a1. 40/21 C2,954,622 10/1960 Moore 40/21 R 3,088,234 5/1963 Lesser et 40/21 C3,550,216 12/1970 Gandclman 24/71 .1 3,680,751 8/1972 Brook 224/28 BFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 88,934 8/1921 Switzerland 224/28 WPrimary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin 5 7 ABSTRACT A strap and bucklecombination useful as a watchband is provided with an article-holdingcompartment. A cover member has a secured end pivotally mounted on thebuckle means, a free end, and a generally continuous surface between.The cover member is pivotal between a closed position wherein the covermember c0- operates with the buckle means to form a functionally closedcompartment under and within the buckle means for maintaining an articletherein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted intoand removed from the compartment.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB AUG 2 61975 sum 1 BF 4 4] W Tmlmum' STRAP AND BUCKLE COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Variousdevices fastenable about a limb of a wearer by a strap and bucklecombination require that an article be utilized in conjunction with thedevice on various occasions. For example, a commercially availableelectronic watch is computer operated and requires use of a magnetpressed against the bottom of the watchcase to activate the computer toset and reset the time indicated by the watch. In order to avoidaccidental loss of the magnet and to ensure its ready availabilitywhenever it is desired to reset the watch, it is desirable that themagnet be removably maintained in a compartment of the watchband.

Watchbands containing compartments for other purposes are described inUS. Pat. Nos. 2,954,622, No. 3,470,638 and No. 3,585,744. However, suchwatchbands have not proven to be entirely satisfactory in use for atleast one of a number of various reasons. Where the compartment isdisposed on what is otherwise a flexible portion of the watchband strapmember, it imparts an additional rigidity to the strap member which isuncomfortable to the user. Even when the compartment is formed atop thealready rigid buckle member of the watchband, the compartment formingmeans is bulky and protrudes outwardly from the outer surface of thewatchband, thus impairing the smooth drop of the wearers shirt cuff overthe watchband, and tending to snag the wearers apparel on the edgesthereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a strapand buckle combination having a compartment forming means which does notdetract from the flexibility of the strap.

It is also an object to provide such a strap and buckle combinationhaving a compartment forming means which does not project outwardly fromthe outer surface of the buckle.

It is another object to provide such a strap and buckle combinationhaving a compartment forming means which does not add to the bulk of thebuckle.

It is a further object to provide such a strap and buckle combinationhaving a compartment forming means which is not uncomfortable to thewearer, does not increases the bulk of the buckle means, and cannotproject outwardly from the buckle means.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It has now been found that the above andrelated objects are obtained in a strap and buckle combination forfastening a device about a limb of the wearer comprising strap means,buckle means and a cover member disposed under and within the bucklemeans. The strap means are adapted to engage a device for movementtherewith, and include a pair of strap portion movable relative to oneanother. The buckle means is secured to at least one of the strapportions for releasably engag ing the strap portions together in atleast one fixed relationship about the limb, the buckle means having alimb-facing surface and a pair of longitudinal flanges adjacent thesides thereof extending towards the limb. The cover means has a securedend pivotally mounted on the buckle means, a free end, and a generallycontinuous and substantially planar surface therebetween. The covermember is pivotable between a closed position wherein the cover membercooperates with the buckle means to form a functionally closedcompartments therebetween (and between the limb and the limb-facingsurface of the buckle means) for maintaining an article therein, and anopen position permitting the article to be inserted into and removedfrom the compartment.

The cover member preferably additionally includes longitudinal flangesadjacent the sides of the planar surface extending away from the limbtowards the buckle means, and a resilient transverse lip at the free endthereof also extending away from the limb and towards the buckle means.When the cover member is in a closed position, the cover member flangesare disposed between the buckle means flanges and the limb-facingsurface of the buckle means extends generally parallel to the continuoussurface of the cover member and proximately abuts the cover memberflanges and the lip to form the aforesaid compartment.

In the preferred embodiments the buckle means flanges define registeringpairs of apertures, and a plurality of pins extend transversely acrossthe limb-facing surface and have ends received in a respective one ofthe registering pairs of apertures. A first of the pins secures one ofthe strap portions to the buckle means, and a second of the pins passesthrough the secured end of the cover member to pivotally mount the covermember on the buckle means.

In a preferred embodiment utilizing a hook and eye buckling technique,the strap means comprises a pair of separate strap members, each of thestrap members having first and second ends the first ends being adaptedto engage the device and the second ends comprising the strap portions.In this embodiment the buckle means includes a transversely extendingflange portion beneath the limb-facing surface and bearing against thetransverse lip when the cover member is in the closed position toreleasably maintain the cover member in the closed position.

In another preferred embodiment the strap portions are normallycontinuously connected to the buckle means and one of the strap portionshas rigid sections which are hinged together so that they may be folded,one on top of the other, under the buckle means. In this embodiment eachof. the strap members has first and second ends, each of the first endsbeing adapted to en gage the device and each of the second ends beingsecured to the buckle means by a respective one of a pair of the firstpins. The second end of the first strap member comprises one of thestrap portions, and a portion of the second strap member intermediatethe first and second ends thereof comprises the other of the strapportions. A third pin not directly connected to either strap member isdisposed between the first and second pins, and the transverse lip ofthe cover member bears resiliently against the third pin when the covermember is in the closed position to releasably maintain the cover memberin the closed position. When the buckle means releasably engages thestrap portions together in one of the fixed relationships, the secondstrap member overlays the cover members, thus concealing thecompartment.

In a modification of the second or fold-over strap embodiment, the covermember has a spaced pair of transverse lips which bear resilientlyagainst the first of the pins when the cover member is in the closedposition to releasably maintain the cover member in the closed position,the lips receiving therebetween at least an end segment of the firststrap member.

Each embodiment may additionally include a small, resiliently flexibletongue secured to the generally continuous surface of the cover memberand extending towards the limb-facing surface of the buckle means, so asto bear on the article within the compartment when the cover member isin the closed position and prevent rattling thereof. Preferably thetongue is stamped from and integral with the generally continuoussurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hookand eye watchband embodiment of the present invention, the compartmentbeing shown in its closed position in solid line and in its openposition in phantom line;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exterior or top plan view to an enlarged scaleof the buckle portion of FIG. 1, one strap portion being indicated inphantom line;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary interior or bottom plan view to an enlargedscale of the buckle portion of FIG. 1, one strap portion being indicatedin phantom line;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary interior or bottom plan view to a greatlyenlarged scale of the buckle portion of FIG. 1, the cover member beingshown in open position, and the article within the compartment beingindicated in phantom line;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of the buckle portiontaken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 and to a greatly enlarged scale, onestrap portion and the article within the compartment being indicated inphantom line, and the cover member being illustrated in its closedposition in solid line and in its open position in phantom line;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the buckle portion taken alongthe line 66 of FIG. 3, the article within the compartment beingillustrated in phantom line;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fold-over watchband embodiment of thepresent invention, the watchband being illustrated inan open position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exterior or top plan view, to an enlarged scaleof the buckle portion of FIG. 7, one strap member being illustrated in aclosed or foldedover position in solid line and the other strap memberbeing indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line99 of FIG. 7 and to an enlarged scale, one strap portion and the articleof the compartment being indicated in phantom line, the cover memberbeing illustrated in the closed portion in solid line and in the openposition in phantom line;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 10-10 ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modified fold-overwatchband embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, therein illustrated is ahook and eye watchband including a watch 10, a pair of separate strapmembers generally designated by the numerals 12 and 14, and a bucklegenerally designated by the numeral 16. The strap members 12 and 14 haveends 12a and 14a adapted to engage the watch 10 at opposite ends thereoffor movement therewith and a pair of separable strap portions 12b and14b movable relative to one another when the buckle 16 is unfastened.The strap members 12, 14 are formed of conventional materials such asleather or cloth and are connected to the watch 10 by means ofconventional push pins or spring bars (not shown) which pass through thestrap member ends 12a, 14a and are engaged by the watch 10. The methodof connecting the strap members 12, 14 to the watch 10 is not a part ofthe present invention, and a single strap member may be utilizedinstead, the single strap member having a portion passing over the watchspring bars and beneath the watchcase. In any case, there are provided apair of strap portions 12b and 14b which are normally movable relativeto one another, but are releasably engaged together in a fixedrelationship (for example, about a wrist) by means of the buckle 16.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1-6, the buckle generallydesignated by the numeral 16 includes an inner or limb-facing surface 20and a pair of longitudinal flanges 22a, 22b adjacent the sides ofsurface 20 and extending inwardly towards the wrist. The flanges 22a,22b define a registering pair of apertures 26a and 26b. A spring bar 30extending transversely across the inner buckle surface 20 secures thestrap portion 12b to one end of the buckle 16, an intermediate length ofthe spring bar 30 passing through a rolled segment of strap portion 12band the ends thereof being received by the registering pair of apertures26a and 26b.

The other end of the buckle 16 comprises an articulated U-shaped member32 and an articulated hook 34, the member 32 and hook 34 being adaptedto releasably engage the strap portion 14b with hook 34 passing throughan aperture therein (not shown), as illustrated in FIG. 1. The buckle l6additionally includes an axially aligned pair of transversely extending,inwardly rolled portions 40a and 40b. A spring bar 42 extendingtransversely across the inner buckle surface 20 pivotally mounts themember 32 to the inner buckle surface 20, an intermediate length of thespring bar 42 passing through the rolled portions 40a, 40b and the endsthereof being received by apertures in the member 32. Articulated hook34 is pivotally mounted on the intermediate length of the spring bar 42between the rolled portions 40a and 40b and coacts in a conventionalmanner with member 32 to maintain the strap portion 14b in a fixedrelationship to the buckle l6, and hence to the other strap portion 12bsecured thereto.

In addition to the above described conventional aspects of the strap andbuckle combination, there is also found in the longitudinal buckleflanges 22a, 22b, between the first pair of registering apertures 26a,26b and the rolled portions 40a, 40b, a second pair of registeringapertures 50a and 50b. Another spring bar 52 extends transversely acrossthe inner buckle surface 20 and has its ends received in this secondpair of registering apertures 50a, 50b.

A cover generally designated by the numeral comprises a generallycontinuous and substantially planar surface 62, a pair of longitudinalflanges 62a and 62b adjacent the sides thereof, a transversely spacedpair of resilient lips 64a and 64b at one end thereof extendingtransversely across the planar surface 62, and a tightly rolled hollowportion 66 at the other end thereof extending transversely across theplanar surface 62. The longitudinal flanges 62a, 62b, the transverselips 64a, 64b, and rolled portion 66 each also extend away from thewrist and towards the inner buckle surface 20 when the cover 60 is in aclosed position. The cover 60 is pivotally mounted on the buckle 16 bymeans of the spring bar 52 which passes through the rolled portion 66and has its ends engaged in the registering pair of apertures 50a and50b. The cover 6i) is configured and dimensioned so that, when it is isa closed position, its longitudinal flanges 62a and 62b fit between thelongitudinal flanges 22a and 22b of the buckle 16 and its lips 64a and64b resiliently bear against rolled portions 40a and 40b of the buckle16, the free edges of flanges 62a, 62b and lips 64a, 64b proximatelyabutting or even contacting the inner buckle surface 20.

In the closed position illustrated in solid line in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6,the cover 60 cooperates with the buckle 16 to form functionally closedcompartment therebetween and between the inner buckle surface and thewrist. More particularly, the cover 60 including the planar surface 62and the upstanding rolled portion 66, flanges 62a, 62b and lips 64a, 64bfrom an open faced compartment which is closed by the interior bucklesurface 20 when the cover is in the closed position, the compartmentresiding entirely within the buckle 16. In the open position illustratedin phantom line in FIGS. 1 and 5, and in solid line in FIG. 4, thecompartment is functionally open sothat an article such as magnet 70 maybe inserted to or removed from the compartment. I

The free end of the cover 60 from which lips 64a, 64b depend ispreferably provided with an outwardly bowed or curved portion 72 tofacilitate insertion of a fingernail under the planar surface 60 forraising the cover from the closed position to the open position. Thecurved portion 72 may even be slightly inclined away from thelimb-facing buckle surface to facilitate opening. If desired, the cover60 may furthermore be provided with a resiliently flexible tongue 74secured to the generally continuous and substantially planar sur face 62and extending slightly towards the inner housing surface 20 so that itbears on the article 70 within the compartment when the cover 60 is inthe closed position to minimize sliding of the article 70 within thecompartment. The tongue 74 is preferably integral with the planarsurface 62 and most easily formed as a stamped-out portion thereof.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 7, therein illustrated is anembodiment of a fold-over watchband including the strap and buckleconstruction of the present invention. In this embodiment the strapmembers generally designated by the numerals 112 and 114 are connectedat strap ends 1120 and 1140 to the watch 10 and at ends ll2b and 11412to the buckle means 116. The buckle means 116 comprises an interiorsurface 120, a pair of inwardly extending longitudinal flanges 122a and122b on either side thereof, and a pair of inwardly turned resilienttabs 125a and 12517 at one end thereof (see FIG. 8). The longitudinalbuckle flanges 122a and l22b define a series of at least four pairs ofregistering apertures 128. The strap ends 112b and l14b are secured tothe buckle 116 by means of spring bars 129 having intermediate lengthspassing through the strap ends 1 12b and 114b, and ends received in twoof the pairs of registering apertures 128. The strap members 112 and l14 are generally formed of metal or other resilient material, with strap112 comprising a plurality of segments 1120, 112d, and 112e connected byhinge means 112f and 112g. To enable a wrist to be inserted into orremoved from the watchband, the various hinged portions l12c112e arelaid open (i.e., unfolded) as illustrated in FIG. 7; to secure thewatchband upon the wrist, the strap segments 112d and 1122 are overlaidas illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10 with the hinge means 1 12f beingreleasably engaged by the resilient tab means a and 12512 of the buckle116. At least one extra pair of registering apertures 128 is desirablyprovided to facilitate sizing of a watchband to a given wrist byrelocation of one of the spring bars 129.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, the cover 60 is identical to the cover 60of the aforedescribed hook and eye embodiment, and is pivotally mountedon buckle 116 in similar fashion to wit, by means of a spring bar 152having an intermediate length passing through a rolledportion of cover60' and ends received in a registering pair of apertures 128 inlongitudinal buckle flanges 122a, l22b. An additional spring bar extendstransversely across the interior surface of the buckle 116 and has itsends receivedin a pair of registering apertures in longitudinal buckleflanges. 122a, l22b. Thespring bar 180 is sopositioned, between springbar 152 adjacent one end of cover 60' and spring bar 129 adjacent theother end of cover 60, that the cover lips 64a and 64b bear resilientlyagainst spring bar 180 when the cover 60' is in the closed position toreleasably maintain the cover 60 in its closed position. When thewatchband is closed abouta limb the compartmentds maintained in itsclosed position not only by the bearing of the lips of cover 60 againstspring bar 180, but also by the strap sections ll2e and 112f whichoverlie and, in fact, conceal the cover 60 when the buckle 116releasably engages strap portions l1 4b and 112f in a fixed, closedrelationship.

Referring now to FIG. 11 therein illustrated is an embodiment of thefold-over watchband according to thev present invention functionallysimilar to that described above, but modified to permit the samefunctions to be accomplished using only three spring bars instead offour. This is accomplished simply by combining the functions of adjacentspring bars 129 and 180 into a single spring bar 180 and utilizing astrap portion .1l4b' which is sufficiently narrow at the end thereof tofit on an intermediate length of spring bar 180 between the spaced pairof resilient lips 64a and 64a. In this manner the lips 64a, 64bresiliently bear on spring bar 180 on either side of the strap portion 114b to releasably maintain the cover 60' in the closed position, whilethe same spring bar 180' is acting to secure strap portion 114b to thebuckle 116. The bowed portion 72 of the free end of the cover 60 ispreferably more deeply recessed from lips 64a, 64b than in otherembodiments to facilitate insertion of a fingernail over the strapportion 114b' and under the bowed portion 72 for opening of thecompartment.

Sizing of the watchband to a given wrist is made in the conventionalmanner by eliminating links from one or both of the strap members 1 12,1 14. The dual functionality of spring bar 180' permits the buckle inthis embodiment to be shorter than the buckle in the other fold-overembodiment as one less pair of apertures 128 is required, and alsoslightly reduces the overall cost of the watchband by reducing thebuckle material cost and eliminating the cost of one spring bar.

To summarize, the present invention provides a strap and bucklecombination having a pivotal cover memher which cooperates with thebuckle to form a functionally closed compartment under and within thebuckle for maintaining an article. The cover member is maintained in itsclosed position by a resilient lip bearing against a transverselyextending portion of the buckle means (FIG. 1 FIG. 6), against a freespring bar (FIGS. 7-10) or against a spring bar used to con nect thebuckle means to a strap portion (F IG. 1 l The cover member does notdecrease the flexibility of the strap members, and does not protrudeoutwardly from the buckle or otherwise increase its bulk; hence awatchband using the instant strap and buckle configuration iscomfortable to wear, does not interfere with proper dropping of thewearers cuff, and cannot cause snagging of the wearers clothes.

Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, various modifications and improvements thereof willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, thespirit and scope of the present invention is to be considered as definednot by the foregoing disclosure, but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a strap and buckle combination for fastening a device about a limbof a wearer comprising A. strap means adapted to engate a device formovement therewith, said strap means including a pair of strap portionsmovable relative to one another;

B. buckle means secured to at least one of said strap portions forreleasably engaging said strap portions together in at least one fixedrelationship about a limb, said buckle means having a limb-facingsurface and a pair of longitudinal flanges adjacent the sides thereofextending towards the limb and defining registering pairs of apertures;

C. a cover member having a secured end pivotally mounted on said bucklemeans, a free end having at least one resilient transverse lip extendingaway from the limb and towards said buckle means, and an intermediatesurface between said secured and free ends, said cover member beingpivotable between a closed position wherein said cover member cooperateswith said buckle means to form a functionally closed compartmenttherebetween and between said limb-facing surface and said limb for D. aplurality of pins extending transversely across said limb-facing surfaceand having ends received in a respective one of said registering pairsof apertures, a first of said pins securing said one strap portion tosaid buckle means, and a second of said pins passing through saidsecured end of said cover member to pivotally mount said cover member onsaid buckle means;

the improvement comprising a third of said pins disposed between saidfirst and second of said pins and adapted for engagement by saidresilient lip when said cover member is in said closed position toreleasably maintain said cover member in said closed position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises firstand second strap members, each of said strap members having first andsecond ends, each of said first ends being adapted to engage the deviceand each of said second ends being secured to said buckle means by arespective one of a pair of said first pins, the second end of saidfirst strap member comprising one of said strap portions, and a portionof said second strap member intermediate said first and second endsthereof comprising the other of said strap portions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said second strap member overliessaid cover member when said buckle means releasably engages said strapportions together in one of said fixed relationships and conceals saidcover member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises firstand second strap members, each of said strap members having first andsecond ends, each of said first ends being adapted to engage the deviceand each of said second ends being secured to said buckle means by arespective one of a pair of said first pins, said second end of saidfirst strap member comrising one of said strap portions and a portion ofsaid second strap member intermediate said first and second ends thereofcomprising the other of said strap portions.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said free ends 'of said covermember has an axially aligned pair of said lips spaced apart to receivetherebetween at least a segment of said first strap member.

1. In a strap and buckle combination for fastening a device about a limbof a wearer comprising A. strap means adapted to engate a device formovement therewith, said strap means including a pair of strap portionsmovable relative to one another; B. buckle means secured to at least oneof said strap portions for releasably engaging said strap portionstogether in at least one fixed relationship about a limb, said bucklemeans having a limb-facing surface and a pair of longitudinal flangesadjacent the sides thereof extending towards the limb and definingregistering pairs of apertures; C. a cover member having a secured endpivotally mounted on said buckle means, a free end having at least oneresilient transverse lip extending away from the limb and towards saidbuckle means, and an intermediate surface between said secured and freeends, said cover member being pivotable between a closed positionwherein said cover member cooperates with said buckle means to form afunctionally closed compartment therebetween and between saidlimb-facing surface and said limb for maintaining an article therein,and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into andremoved from said compartment; and D. a plurality of pins extendingtransversely across said limbfacing surface and having ends received ina respective one of said registering pairs of apertures, a first of saidpins securing said one strap portion to said buckle means, and a secondof said pins passing through said secured end of said cover member topivotally mount said cover member on said buckle means; the improvementcomprising a third of said pins disposed between said first and secondof said pins and adapted for engagement by said resilient lip when saidcover member is in said closed position to releasably maintain saidcover member in said closed position.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein said strap means comprises first and second strap members, eachof said strap members having first and second ends, each of said firstends being adapted to engage the device and each of said second endsbeing secured to said buckle means by a respective one of a pair of saidfirst pins, the second end of said first strap member comprising one ofsaid strap portions, and a portion of said second strap memberintermediate said first and second ends thereof comprising the other ofsaid strap portions.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said secondstrap member overlies said cover member when said buckle meansreleasably engages said strap portions together in one of said fixedrelationships and conceals said cover member.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said strap means comprises first and second strapmembers, each of said strap members having first and second ends, eachof said first ends being adapted to engage the device and each of saidsecond ends being secured to said buckle means by a respective one of apair of said first pins, said second end of said first strap membercomprising one of said strap portions and a portion of said second strapmember intermediate said first and second ends thereof comprising theother of said strap portions.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidfree ends of said cover member has an axially aligned pair of said lipsspaced apart to receive therebetween at least a segment of said firststrap member.